Who do you think is the most talented actor/actress that you've seen?

[bumblebeewine]

For me, it's Pamela Rabe. So underrated but so immensely brilliant. Also think Jessica Lange is amazing.

Who do you think is the most talented actor/actress you've ever watched?

Derek Jacobi in king Lear
Ruth Wilson in Anna Christie (and to be fair I think she's amazing in everything).
Mark Rylance in Jerusalem.
Those three performances have stuck with me years after seeing them.

So hard to say, but - recently - possibly Michael Sheen.

Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking

David Tennant I think.

Lots of very good ones, but his nuances are incredible.

Far too much "overacting" goes on with a lot of very popular and well-known actors.

Michael Sheen also excellent.

I find Stephen Graham mesmerising, which I think is from him being a great actor (rather than just screen presence iyswim).

The creme de la creme in my experience aren’t well known names but people I’ve seen in Fringe or Regional Theatre.

Someone who is becoming better know and who is spectacular live is Paapa Essiedu

Denise Gough is great too.

The entire cast of the TV adaptation of Small Island were fabulous but especially David Oyelowo and Ruth Wilson. Ruth Wilson is also great in Luther, Jane Eyre...most things to be fair.

Jodie Comer and Joanne Froggatt are both tremendous actresses.

The main one though for me - Tom Hanks. Absolutely love him.

Dame Maggie Smith.

Harriet Walter. Her Lady Macbeth at Stratford was mesmerising.

Simon Russell Beale - in basically everything (loved him in Spooks where he was very insulting re. Mumsnet ). I saw him as the most oddly cast Ariel at Stratford. He was wearing a Chairman Mao suit, was slightly overweight, and was about as far removed as it’s possible to imagine from Shakespeare’s airy sprite. He was, quite simply, brilliant. It was impossible to take your eyes off him.

And Kenneth Branagh was fabulous as Hamlet. Love him as Lockhart, too - although I don’t think this used an enormous amount of his acting talent. But he looked like he was having enormous fun overacting.

I agree with Michael Sheen. He is brilliant when playing biographical roles; absolutely amazing as Brian Clough. I also think Cillian Murphy (hence user name!), as Tommy Shelby, is superb, especially as Tommy is so different to Cillian IYSWIM. He is also brilliant in a lot of his film roles - Disco Pigs is so good.

Daniel Mays is a great actor along with Stephen Graham. The latter's performance in the Virtues was very difficult to watch because of its authenticity.

Nothing will ever top seeing DLD as Hamlet at the NT though

Agree re Michael Sheen too. Loved the chemistry between him and David T in Good Omens. Jon Hamm's Gabriel was a perfect bit of casting too

Cate Blanchet in about everything she has
done, but especially Elizabeth

Tilda Swinton so unique and quirky

Samantha Moreton is very versatile loved her in Control

Hilary Swank, Maggie Smith, meryl streep, Edward Norton are all amazing except in certain crappy films.

Daniel Day Lewis in pretty much everything but especially In The Name of the Father.

Ralph Fiennes
Harriet Walters
Eileen Atkins
Cate Blanchet

I might get laughed at, but love Reese Witherspoon. Esp in Walk the line.
Also Tom Hanks

Michael Sheen
Meryl Streep
Judi Dench
Maggie Smith
Ian McKellern

Jodie Comer for me, she's incredible

James Gandolofini for me. Not sure about actress, possibly Kate Winslet

Ian Charleson in Hamlet, a few months before his death. Spine chillingly powerful.

Most of the above, but my very favourite is Rupert Everett - his performance in St Trinians was just perfect!

Daniel Day Lewis because of his sheer range.

Jean Alexander for creating the greatest TV character of all time.

Viola Davis
Tobias Menzies
Cate Blanchett